EPA finds flaws in Somerset sewers

Wednesday

Mar 6, 2013 at 11:53 AM

By GEORGE AUSTIN

By GEORGE AUSTIN

Editor

SOMERSET — A safety inspection of Somerset's water pollution control facility has found some problems that the U.S. Environmental Protecting Agency wants corrected, according to Superintendent Harry Garcia.

Mr. Garcia said none of the violations pose any danger to sewer systems of residents or businesses in town or to workers at the water pollution control facility.

The inspection was done by four representatives of the EPA on Feb. 14. Mr. Garcia said the inspectors went through the whole plant and invited a union representative to accompany them during the inspection. He said the inspection lasted from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. that day and the main focus was on chemicals and protective equipment.

Mr. Garcia said the major problem the inspectors found was in the chlorine building where pipes were not labeled correctly. He said EPA wants chlorine detection equipment in the building to be relocated. Chlorine is used at the water pollution control facility to disinfect sewage before it is discharged into the Taunton River. To address the EPA's concerns, Mr. Garcia said modifications may have to be made to the plant's chlorine system to get it up to a certain standard. He said there are also alternatives to using chlorine, such as an ultraviolet system or using a bleach concentration. With those two options, he said the plant would not need a risk management plan, but said they are costly to operate and there would be a capital improvement investment the town would have to make to implement them.

In 1992, chlorine started to be used at the plant, which was built in 1972.

Mr. Garcia said there was also an issue with labeling drums of chemicals at the plant. He said the plant's spill prevention counter measure control plan for oil was looked at. He said there needs to be yearly training on that topic, which he said has been done.

Scott O'Brien, chairman of the Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners, said that since the EPA inspection, signage has been addressed on the property. While the EPA has made recommendations for work that needs to be done on the property, he said the federal agency has not provided any documentation on that yet, so the town will know more later. He said the town has hired an engineering firm that is reviewing the safety response plan for the water pollution control facility.

"What we're doing right now is being proactive, correcting the simple things they want us to address and looking at things we may have to do in the future," Mr. O'Brien said.

Mr. O'Brien said if there was a major problem at the plant, the EPA would have shut down its operation, which it did not do.

Mr. O'Brien did not know how much it will cost to address the problems at the plant. Residents and businesses pay a sewer infrastructure fee where money can be taken from to do such work, so that it does not come out of the property tax revenue if it does not cost too much.

Mr. Garcia said updates to plans on safety procedures on maintenance at the plant have to be updated. He said standard operating procedures and training of employees have to be addressed to meet the needs of the plant. He said he is working with the chemical vendors that the town does business with to set up training.

Mr. Garcia said the population of Somerset has changed since the original risk management plan that addresses safety for employees and the public was done for the sewer plant in 1999. He said he needs permission from EPA before making changes to that plan. The plan is updated every five years. Mr. O'Brien said an engineer was reviewing the plan within 48 hours after the EPA came to the plant, which he said is about as fast a response as possible. The next update is due in 2014 and Mr. Garcia said there will be a lot changes to it. Mr. Garcia said the original plan was based on having 2,000 pounds of chlorine in the plant, but an EPA inspector said the plan should be based on 4,000 pounds of chlorine. The facility has one ton containers for chlorine and can have two of those containers online at the same time. Mr. Garcia said they are both online at the same time in the worst case scenario. He said the plant averages about 60 pounds of chlorine per day, so a one-ton container lasts a little more than a month.

Mr. Garcia said if the problems cited by EPA are not addressed, the town could be fined. EPA has given the town 10 days to submit a plan of action to address the violations. Mr. Garcia said the EPA report was to be discussed at yesterday's meeting of the Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners (after deadline). He said he would address whatever problems the EPA has cited himself and said a consultant would help the town to take care of the other issues. Mr. Garcia is responsible for keeping EPA informed as problems are corrected at the Somerset plant.

Mr. Garcia said the town is continually making upgrades to its sewer system, which includes pumping stations around town and the pumping station on Walker Street. He said work is presently being done on the Lee's River Avenue pumping station and that project is estimated at $1.7 million. Mr. Garcia said a consultant prepares a five year capital improvement plan for the sewer system and tries to spread the work as far apart as possible.

"We're so pro-active down there," Mr. O'Brien said. "Anytime anything breaks or has a problem, we address it immediately."

The plant has 15 employees who work during one shift from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. There is a protocol for after hours work if there is a chlorine leak. Mr. Garcia said there has never been a major chlorine accident at the water pollution control facility.

"Things are being maintained," Mr. Garcia said. "The personnel are doing a great job with it. They know the dangers of it. But there is always training that needs to take place."